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Small transport pilot operating a skydiver flight thought that center had approved descent after skydivers away. Controller was going to give clearance to descend, but reporter had already commenced without clearance.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 398661 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199804 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zab |
| State Reference | NM |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 22000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zab |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 25 |
| ASRS Report | 398661 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was flying parachute jumpers to 22000 ft MSL on an IFR flight plan. I contacted ZAB at 17000 ft and they cleared me to 22000 ft. Since my mission was to drop the skydivers and then descend as quickly as possible, I asked center if I could start my descent immediately after the jumpers are away. He said I could, so I thought I was cleared to descend as soon as the jumpers are out the door. What he meant was that he would clear me to descend as soon as I call 'jumpers away' (my opinion). What I thought was that I already was cleared. Once the jumpers were out, I called center and told them I was descending (to 18000 ft), but he expected me to stay at 22000 ft. This was my first high altitude jump and I wasn't familiar with how they handle this. I followed my usual procedures for lower altitude jumps. What I should have done is to phone center before getting into the airplane to get exact instructions.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: SMT PLT OPERATING A SKYDIVER FLT THOUGHT THAT CTR HAD APPROVED DSCNT AFTER SKYDIVERS AWAY. CTLR WAS GOING TO GIVE CLRNC TO DSND, BUT RPTR HAD ALREADY COMMENCED WITHOUT CLRNC.
Narrative: I WAS FLYING PARACHUTE JUMPERS TO 22000 FT MSL ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. I CONTACTED ZAB AT 17000 FT AND THEY CLRED ME TO 22000 FT. SINCE MY MISSION WAS TO DROP THE SKYDIVERS AND THEN DSND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, I ASKED CTR IF I COULD START MY DSCNT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE JUMPERS ARE AWAY. HE SAID I COULD, SO I THOUGHT I WAS CLRED TO DSND AS SOON AS THE JUMPERS ARE OUT THE DOOR. WHAT HE MEANT WAS THAT HE WOULD CLR ME TO DSND AS SOON AS I CALL 'JUMPERS AWAY' (MY OPINION). WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THAT I ALREADY WAS CLRED. ONCE THE JUMPERS WERE OUT, I CALLED CTR AND TOLD THEM I WAS DSNDING (TO 18000 FT), BUT HE EXPECTED ME TO STAY AT 22000 FT. THIS WAS MY FIRST HIGH ALT JUMP AND I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH HOW THEY HANDLE THIS. I FOLLOWED MY USUAL PROCS FOR LOWER ALT JUMPS. WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE IS TO PHONE CTR BEFORE GETTING INTO THE AIRPLANE TO GET EXACT INSTRUCTIONS.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.